Dear back to school, I’m going to rock you

Are you joining the ‘parents of big kids’ club this year? If so, I welcome you — it’s a mighty fine place to be.

I daydream about the coming morning when my boys will test out their uniforms for the very first time, and we’ll head out the front door to walk a quarter mile to the bus stop. Their shoulders will be dragged down by their backpacks, having spent three months growing unaccustomed to the weight of peechees, pencils and lunch boxes packed just-so.

My left hand will hold the dog’s leash along with a plastic poop baggie that announces, “I am a responsible dog owner! It’s not my pet pooping on your lawn!” for all to note. My right will twitch, ready to flick open my phone’s camera app at a moment’s notice, just in case we’ve timed the bus route incorrectly.

With a roar, shudder and chug the yellow beast that carries children away will arrive, and for one frantic moment I’ll consider holding them back — saying ‘No thank you, they’re mine, you can’t take them,’ — but in an instant they’ll have ascended the three steps far too tall for the legs and entered the swarm of busyness. Me, a fading thought.

Perhaps I’ll cry, as I have in years past. Perhaps I won’t. Either way, the dog and I will trod on home to begin our own adventure: 180-mandated days of possibility. Yes!

This will be my fourth year as a school mom (third with both boys gone during the day), and I’ve learned a thing or two about setting goals and realistic expectations. Here’s my back-to-school game plan, which includes both what I will and will not be doing while my second and third-grade boys are away:

Love this! I’m putting crockpot meals on my list of to-dos. Plop it in in the morning means no more racing to cook during the most hectic time of day!

Gemma

I’m so excited for the school year too!! Last year I walked off 15 pounds. If I can do that again I’ll be so happy 😀

dee

Awesome post so cute. Think everyone can relate to those beginning of the school year intentions. My daughter has told me she is going to keep her desk at school neat all year this year. Last year it was messy and when a few homework assignments went missing her teacher informed me they were probably lost in her very messy desk. I’m sure it will last about two weeks for her too. Poor baby taking after her mama.